Europe

Switzerland is increasing water discharge from Lake Lugano to aid Lake Maggiore amid severe water shortages affecting northern Italy. The flow will rise from 3 to 8 cubic metres per second, a temporary measure to support irrigation needs and lake levels, coordinated through the Italian-Swiss Bilateral Consultation Body.

Major wildfires are ravaging parts of Greece, Spain, Italy, and France as temperatures soar due to an intense heatwave. In Greece, nearly 200 firefighters tackled a new blaze near Athens, while Spain evacuated 800 due to ongoing wildfires in Huelva. Italy reported 80,325 hectares scorched this year, and France raised fire risk alerts.

A tragic shooting at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, southern Austria, has claimed at least eight to ten lives—including students, teachers, and the attacker—who is believed to have died by suicide after opening fire around 10 am local time.

We’re only halfway through the week but much has happened across the continent so far: Israel has continued to attack aid centres as Greta Thunberg – and other activists – have been deported. Over in Italy, the public took to the polls to vote on changes in labour laws and citizenship – barely anyone turned up! Meanwhile, Poland’s election count has stirred up drama, with officials now checking whether someone swapped numbers as well as ballots.

Brussels has proposed new sanctions targeting Russia, whilst the UK has announced sanctions on two Israeli ministers.

The Dutch have announced they will hold elections in October following Geert Wilders’ party walking out of the coalition.

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